Ethics and Law for Health Professionals (7951.2)

Please note these are the 2020 details for this unit
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Ethics and Law for Health Professionals
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
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EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Midwifery Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Professional education in health requires an understanding of human value systems. The content in this unit provides students with an opportunity to apply the law and a range of ethical approaches to healthcare practice.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, the student will:
1. Understand the regulatory frameworks that underpin healthcare practice;
2. Explore ethical dimensions of practice using multiple perspectives; and
3. Be knowledgeable in relation to the law and legal frameworks as they apply to practice.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Not available

Required texts

Required text

McDonald, F.& Then, S. (2019). Ethics, Law and Health Care: A guide for nurses and Midwives. (2nd edn) Melbourne, Palgrave Macmillan. KN185.18.N8.M33 2014

Additional suggested texts

Allan, S. (2019). Law & Ethics for Health Practitioners. Australia, Elsevier

McIlwraith, J., & Madden, B. (2014). Health Care & the Law. (6th edn).Sydney, Lawbook Co. KL30.H4.M35 2014

Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H.,  Dixon, L.,  (2019) Midwifery: preparation for Practice 4e. (4th edn.). Sydney, Elsevier.  

Staunton, P. & Chiarella, M. (2017). Law for nurses and midwives. (8th edn). Sydney, Elsevier.

Atkins, K., De Lacey, S., Ripperger, R., & Britton, B. (2017) Ethics and Law for Australian Nurses (3rd edn). Singapore, Cambridge University Press.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Assessment items must be submitted to the assignment area in the unit's UCLearn site, relating to that piece of assessment. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item, to the right submission section, by the due date and time. 

Late submissions will only be accepted for a limited period. If more than one late submission is made within that period, only the first late submission will be accepted for marking and may be subject to penalties as detailed in the Assessment Procedures.

All assessment items must be attempted in order to be successful in this unit.

Special assessment requirements

If there is any doubt about the requirements of a particular assessment or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the convener about the matter. All assessments must be submitted/undertaken to pass the unit.  Students must achieve an overall mark of 50% to pass the unit.

Information on extensions (above) and special consideration for assessments can be found in the Student Guide to Policies https://www.canberra.edu.au/current-students/student-policies

Attendance/Participation

It is required that students participate in all unit learning opportunities in this unit. Assessment items are linked to the unit learning outcomes. The expectation is that students will be engaged in the directed learning guide, self motivated and manage their time well in order to achieve the learning outcomes from the unit with guidance and support from the unit convener.

Moderation

Moderation will be undertaken for all assessment items to ensure that marking is fair and consistent. Moderation will take place in line with the faculty of health guidelines and the University assessment procedures document https://www.canberra.edu.au/Policies/PolicyProcedure/Index/369

Extension

Students can apply for an extension to the submission due date for an assessment item through extenuating, evidenced circumstances (specific details are found in the Assessment Procedures).

Extensions must be applied for before the due date. Documentary evidence (e.g. medical certificate) will be expected for an extension to be granted, however this will not guarantee that the application will be successful. The Unit Convener or relevant Program Director will decide whether to grant an extension and the length of the extension.

An Assignment Extension form is available from the Student Forms page.

Late submission of assignments without an approved extension will result in a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available, per calendar day late. An assignment submitted over 7 days late will be given a 0 mark as per University Assessment policy and procedure.

Supplementary assessment

There will be no supplementary assessments offered.

URKUND will be available to students via the Canvas site.  Students will be able to submit a draft of work for text-matching prior to final submission.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

In order to get the most out of your studies, it is strongly recommended that you plan your time commitments, actively engage in discussions (online or face-to-face) and work with your peers as part of your study. The amount of time you will need to spend on study in this unit will depend on a number of factors including your prior knowledge, learning skill level and learning style. Nevertheless, in planning your time commitments you should note that for a 3 credit point unit the total notional workload over the semester or term is assumed to be 150 hours.

 

Please familiarise yourself with Canvas and use the Canvas help options as required.

Inclusion and engagement

It is strongly recommended that students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or an ongoing health condition register with the Inclusion and Engagement Office as soon as possible so that reasonable adjustment arrangements can be made.

 

Any student with a reasonable adjustment plan (RAP) is asked to contact the Unit convenor if they wish to enact this plan for support with assessments or classroom engagement or Online engagement

Participation requirements

For 2020, given the unpredictable nature of the COVID – 19 pandemic and to ensure that students and staff remain safe and compliant with physical distancing recommendations this unit will be delivered online; there is no face to face teaching.

 

It is expected that students participate in all learning opportunities in this unit, and complete all activities within the learning modules, including directed and self directed study, and actively participate in scheduled online sessions via the Canvas Virtual Room. Participating in class discussions to clarify concepts and to develop confidence with professional communication and verbally expressing ideas can be helpful for students and also supports the learning of student peers (see NMBA RN Standards for Practice 2016 Standard 2 and related criterion https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx -

 

Furthermore participation in virtual sessions enables students to ask questions and develop professional behaviours and accountability for safe practice.

Required IT skills

Please note Section 4 B: materials required. You will require computer skills to access the internet and by able to upload to the ‘Canvas' university site written submissions using ‘word' and PowerPoint formats. This unit may involve online meetings in real time using a virtual room. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, please visit the UCLearn Student Help link.

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

No practicum or work placement is associated with this unit.

Additional information

Students are expected to use the APA 7th edition method of referencing and formatting throughout their assignments and the use of Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4) may be used if referencing legislation or cases.